Homogenizing apparatus



Dec. 28, 1937.

w. s. BOWEN HoMoGENIzING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1934 Dec. 28, 1937. w. s. BowN 2,103,388

I HoMoGENIzINs APPARATUS Filed Febr. 2o. 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 TORGUE im @,Mdmwm 111s,v ATToRNEvs Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

. The present invention relates to devices for homogenizing substances generally similar to that illustrated in applicants copending application Serial No. 711,614, led February 16, 1934. Theinvention embodies,v more specifically, an improved homogenizer wherein a driving mechanism and feeding apparatus is provided by means of which the speed of rotation of the homogenizing head may be stepped up to a desired value without unduly multiplying the number of parts of the mechanism or the complexity thereof, thus affording an effective and convenient power source which facilitates the proper control of the mechanism. More particularly, this aspect of the invention is attained by providing a hollow shaft through which the substance to be homogenized may be fed, the hollow shaft being driven by a turbine of suitable form. The hollow shaft, moreover, carries at one end thereof a micronizer lhead which is of improved construction and formed to homogenize, effectively, the substance fed thereto.

The invention further contemplates the provision of an improved controlling mechanism for the rotating element, the mechanism functioning effectively as a speed governor for the turbine or other power source, being highly sensitive and responsive to changes of speed of the rotating element.

The homogenizing mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention is further characterized bythe provision of a homogenizing chamber which is self-scavenging and thus materially improves the operation of the mechanism.

In addition to the above features, the invention will be seen to include other improvements and to have other objects as described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

, Figure 1 is a view in section, taken through the axis of a homogenizing mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention, and showing the details of the homogenizing chamber,

turbine drive, turbine governor, hollow feed shaft and drive for the micronizer head and micronizer head construction.

Figure 2 is a plan View partly broken away and in section, showing the micronizer head and hollow feed shaft construction of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a partial view in side elevation showing the governor mechanism of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a moded form of governor constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away andl in section, showing the construction of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a graph showing the relation -be tween the torque and speed for various speed tensions and magnetic loading.

Referring to the above drawings, the homogenizing mechanism includes a housing I forming a homogenizing chamber Il, the homogenizing housing being provided with downwardly sloping walls I2 and bottom walls I3 which slope inwardly and downwardly to an outlet I4. The housing may be mounted upon pedestals l or upon any other suitable foundation, the upper portion thereof being formed with an annular land I6 about an opening I1. The land I6 is adapted to receive a cover plate I8 which may be bolted thereto by bolts I9 and is formed with a central aperture 28 through which a hollow feed shaft 2| is adapted to pass. A suitable packing gland- 22 may be provided to afford a. seal between the plate I8 and the hollow shaft 2| and a bearing 23 is carried by the plate 8 to journal the hollow shaft 2| therein. y l

Over the cover plate I8, a housing 24 is secured preferably as by bolts 25. This housing is formed with a turbine chamber 26 within which turbine. blades 2l are adapted to be received. These blades may be formed upon a collar 28 which may be suitably secured to the hollow shaft 2| with a driving connection, a radial bearing 29 being provided above the collar 28 to journal the shaft in the housing 24.

An outlet 30 is provided for the turbine chamber and the housing 24 is formed with a nozzle 3| which may be suitably disposed with respect to the turbine blades 21, communicating with a valve chamber 32 which is also formed in the housing 24. A balanced valve mechanism 33 is provided to control the supply of a suitable uid medium under pressure from a supply pipe 34, the valve 33 being controlled in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The hollow shaft 2| is adapted to receive a ilexibly mounted tube 2|' to receive a substance to be homogenized in order that the substance may be directed downwardly to the lower extremity of the hollow shaft 2|. 'Ihe lower end of shaft 2| may be closed by means of a cap 35. y Slots 36 are formed in the lower extremity of the shaft 2 I and communicate with the homogenizing head'which may be preformed and suitably secured to the lower extremity of the hollow shaft 2|. This head may be formed of upper and lower plates 31 and 38. respectively, the plates having formed there- .the head as illustrated in Figure 2 and are adapted to subject the particles alternately to impact and shearing stresses. As set forth in applicants Patent No. 2,005,987, dated June 25, 1935, for Micronizer head, this construction greatly improves the homogenizing operation.

In order that the speed of the hollow shaft and therefore the speed of the homogenizer head may be controlled, eiectively, a governor mechanism has been provided which includes a floating disc 4| which is journaled at 42 upon the housing 24. The floating disc 4| is provided with a plurality of permanent magnets 43 which may be U-shaped and have their poles extending upwardly and into close proximity with a disc 44 which is secured to the upper end of the hollow shaft 2|. The floating disc 4| is provided with a cam 45. As the shaft 2| rotates, the disc 44 rotates across the magnetic fields of the permanent magnets 43. As a result, disc 4| tends to follow the rotation of disc 44 and cam 45 rides over a roller 4E which is journaled upon a forked extremity 4i of a spindle 48 upon which the valve 33 is mounted. A spring 49 normally urges the roller 46 upwardly against the under surface of the disc 4| and the cam 45. By means of this construction, it will be seen that an increase in speed of the hollow shaft 2|, by reason of a temporary reduction in the amount of substance fed through thc hollow shaft or because of an lincrease in pressure or driving uidvsupplied through the valve, exerts a greater torque upon the floating disc 4l and thus causes the cam 45 to be moved over the roller 46. As a result, the valve 33 is moved toward its closed position and a proper balance is maintained to insure a constant speed of the hollow shaft 2| and homogenizer head.

In the construction shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, a modiiied form of governor is illustrated. This governor includes a rotating disc 50 which is rotatable with the feed head of the mechanism. The disc may correspond in construction and operation to the disc 44, described in connection with the construction shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and is adapted to cooperate with a segmental plate 5| which is secured to a vertical valve spindle 52. 'Ihe'valve spindle is journaled in a housing 53 through which steam or other driving fluid may be introduced into the fluid chamber of the driving mechanism. A Valve 54 of suitable form may be secured to the spindle 52 and the plate 5| is urged into a normal position corresponding to the open position of the valve by means of a spring 55. The spring 55 is anchored at one end to the disc 5| and is adapted to be secured at its other end adjustably to the housing 53 by means of a suitable securing device 55. The disc 5| carries a plurality of U-shaped magnets 5l which are adapted to lie under the disc 5|, adjacent the periphery thereof, and thus enable the magnetic properties thereof to be utilized as a means for actuating the valve 54. Packing 58 is, of course, preferably used about the valve spindle 52 in order that the connection may be fluid tight and it will be seen that the operation of the mechanism is similar to that described in connection with theconstruction shown in Figures l, 2, and 3. With reference to Figure 6, since the torque exerted by the disc 55 on the mental disc 5i varies directly as the the opposing torque exerted by the spring will also vary directly as the speed in. accordance with aioasee Hookes law. Therefore, the magnetic torque of the disc 50 and the resilient torque of the spring 55 can be represented by the same straight line as in Figure 6. This gives the condition of a purely isochronous governor and while very delicate and sensitive to the slightest changes in speed, it is nevertheless unstable and apt to hunt or fluctuate through a wide range with any sudden Achange in' load due to inertia effect in the segmental plate 5|, stern 52, and valve 54. To overcome this difficulty, it is necessary to reduce the magnetic torque of the disc at some denite balance point B (Figure 4:) either stopping the line of magnets 5l or reducing their size or flux density. Thus in the spring setting to give the torque curve O-C, the magnetic torque would exactly balance at the point F (50,000 R. P. M. in the construction now in operation). At higher speeds than 50,000 R. P. M. the resilient torque of the spring 55 would be more powerful than the magnetic torque of the disc and the speed would be held denitely at 50,000 R. P. M. Sim ilarly for other spring settings the torque curves would be O-D and O-E with balancing points G (40,000 R. P. M.) and H (30,000 R.. P. M respectively. The dotted curves F, F G, G and H, H' represent the nal torque curves of the magnetic torque if the disc were allowed to go to any such higher speeds.

As a result, there is provided not only the sensitivity of an isochronous governor below the balancing point but a powerful spring or resilient torque is provided to overcome any tendency of inertia forces to cause hunting or fluctuating of the control mechanism.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing having a hornogenizing head therein, a central feed pipe for the head, means to secure the head to the pipe, the end of the pipe adjacent the head being closed and formed with apertures communicating with the head, blades on the head terminating adjacent one edge of the respective apertures, -ns on the blades lying substantially perpendicular to the blades and extending in overlapping relationship on adjacent blades, and means to rotate the pipe.

2. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing, a hollow feed pipe associated therewith. a housing in which the pipe is journaled, a rotor in the housing and on the feed pipe to rotate the pipe, a valve on the second housing to control the actuation of the rotor, a rotatable plate concentric With the feed pipe and having a cam formed on the lower side thereof, the plate being journaled on the second housing, means engaging the lower side of the plate and actuating the Valve, a disc secured to the pipe adjacent the plate, and magnets on one of the said disc and plate to create a magnetic field about the other of the said disc and plate.

3. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing, rotatable means inthe housing. a homogenizing element on the rotatable means receiving therefrom substance to be homogenized,

said element and said rotatable means being sub jected to variations of torque react-ance by reason of variations in physical p. erties and rate of feed of the substance h homogenized, means to control the rotatT ans, a rst member rotatable 'ff r.

.ne rotatable means, a second member xed upon the rotatable means, magnetic means on one of the members whereby a torque is set up in one upon roi tation of the other responsive to the aforesaid variations in physical properties and ,rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, means to actuate the control means by the first mem--V ber, and a spring to resist the actuation of thex last named means by the first member, the spring and magnetic means being formed to cause the action of the magnetic means to weaken relatively to that of the spring at a predetermined torque to prevent hunting.

4. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing, a hollow feed pipe associated-therewith, a homogenizing element on the feed pipe receiving therefrom substance to be homogenized, ysaid element and said pipebeing subjected to variations of torque reactance by reasonof variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, a rotor on the pipe, means to actuate the rotor, means to control the rotor actuating means, a member rotatable with respect to the feed pipe and having means thereon to actuate the controlling means, means rotatable with the feed pipe and responsive to the aforesaid variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, and means on one of the two last named means to set up a magnetic field in which the other means lies, whereby a torque is set up on the other means upon relative rotation thereof and the rate of rotation of the homogenizing'element is controlled'by the substance being homogenized.

5. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing, a hollow feed pipe associated therewith, a homogenizing element on the feed pipe receiving therefrom substance to-be homogenized,

said element and said pipe being subjected to variations of torque reactance by reason of variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, means to rotate the feed pipe, means to actuate the last named means, and means responsive to the aforesaid variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the Asubstance being homogenized to control the last named actuating means whereby the rate of rotation of the homogenizing element is controlled by the substance being homogenized.

6. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing, a hollow feed pipe associated therewith, a homogenizing element on the feed pipe receiving therefrom substance to be homogenized, said element and said pipe being'subjected to variations of torque reactance by reason of variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, means to rotate the feed pipe, means to actuate the last named means, means responsive tothe aforesaid variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized to set up a controlling force to control the last named actuating means, and means to resist the action of the last named 'means whereb3r the rate of rotation of the homogenizing element is controlled by the substance being homogenized.

'7. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing, a hollow feed pipe associated therewith, a homogenizing element on the feed pipe receiving therefrom substance to be homogenized, said element and said pipe being subjected to variations of torque reactance by reason of variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, means to rotate the feed pipe, means to actuate the last named means, means responsive to the aforesaid variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized to set up a controlling force to control the last named actuating means, andmeans to resist the action of the last namedv means, the two last named means being formed to cause the action of one to substantially increase over the action of the other at a predetermined point. s

8. A homogenizing apparatus comprising la housing, a hollow feed pipe associated therewith, a homogenizing element on the feed pipe receiving therefrom substance to be homogenized, said element and said pipe being subjected to variations of torque reactance by reason of variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, a housing in which the pipe is journaled, a rotor in the housing' and on the feed pipe to rotate the pipe, means to actuate the rotor, means to control the rotor actuating means, a rotatable plate concentric with the feed pipe and having means thereon to actuate the controlling means, the plate being journaled on the second housing, a disc secured to the pipe adjacent the plate and responsive lto the aforesaid variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, and magnets on one of the said disc and plate to create a magnetic eld about the other of the said disc and plate whereby the rate of rotation of the homogenizing element is controlled by the substance being homogenized.

9. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a housing, a hollow feed pipe associated therewith, a homogenizing element on the feed pipe receiving therefrom substance to be homogenized, said element and said pipe being subjected to variations of torque'reactance by reason of variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, a rotor on the pipe, means to actuate the rotor, means to control the rotor actuating means, a member movable with respect to the feed pipe and having means thereon to actuate the controlling means, and means rotatable with the feed pipe and responsive to the aforesaid variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized to set up actuating force in the movable member, whereby the rate of rotation of the homogenizing element is controlled by the substance being homogenized.

10. A homogenizing apparatus comprising a` housing, rotatable means inthe housing, a homogenizing element on the rotatable means receiving therefrom"substance to be' homogenized, said element and said rotatable means being subjected to variations of torque reactance by reason of variations in physical properties and rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, means to control the rotatable means, a first member rotatable with respect to the rotatable means, a second member fixed upon the rotatable means, magnetic means on one of the members whereby a torque is set up in one upon rotation of the other responsive to the aforesaid variations in physical propertiesnd rate of feed of the substance being homogenized, means to actuate the control means by the rst member, and a spring to resist the actuation of the last named means by the first member whereby the rateof rotation of the homogenizing element is 1 the substance being homogenized.` 

